What is Windows Home Server?

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Out for Android Now

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing Out for Android Now

Sega today announced the award winning mobile title Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is now available on Android for £1.60 from Google Play. Players can join the world’s fastest hedgehog plus their favourite SEGA characters in a race to the finish line across 16 over-the-top themed courses.

Start your engines and take to the track by car, monster truck, bike, plane or even a banana as you speed your way through four Grand Prix Cups, dueling Battle Mode or 25 unique missions. Use each of the character’s unique handling characteristics and All-Star moves to become unbeatable and battle your way to the top of the leaderboards zooming past up to three friends in head-to-head online multiplayer. So come join Sonic and his friends and see that winning is only part of the fun!

Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing is out now on Google Play here and will also be available on Amazon for £1.27. The app is still available on your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch for the ultimate racing showdown.

WWE 2K14 Wrestlemania mode Ruthless Aggression Era matches revealed

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Sep 19, 2013

0

2K Sports have revealed the Wrestlemania Ruthless Aggression Era mode matches for WWE 2K14.

RUTHLESS AGGRESSION MATCH LIST:

WrestleMania 18: The Rock vs. Hollywood Hogan
WrestleMania 18: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Triple H
WrestleMania 19: HBK vs. Chris Jericho
WrestleMania 19: The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
WrestleMania 20: John Cena vs. The Big Show
WrestleMania 20: Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar
WrestleMania 21: John “Bradshaw” Layfield vs. John Cena
WrestleMania 22: Edge w/Lita vs. Mick Foley
WrestleMania 23: Batista (c) vs. The Undertaker
WrestleMania 23: John Cena (c) vs. Shawn Michaels
WrestleMania 24: HBK vs. Ric Flair
WrestleMania 24: Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena vs. Triple H

Here are some more screenshots:

So what do you think of WWE 2K14? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Watch the Final Fantasy XIII – Lightning Returns TGS Trailer

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

Watch the Final Fantasy XIII – Lightning Returns TGS Trailer

The Tokyo Game Show 2013 trailer for LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII reveals more about the involving story, exciting action and engaging characters to be included in the forthcoming game.

This version of the trailer precedes an extended edit – which is scheduled to go public at 0900BST/ 1000CET Sunday 22^nd Sept.

How will you spend your final days? LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII is scheduled to release in European and PAL markets on 14^th February 2014, on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Diablo III Auction House to Close

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

Diablo III is going to remove the gold and real-money auction house system from the game.

Diablo and Blizzard Entertainment initially designed and implemented the auction house system, the driving goal was to provide a convenient and secure system for trades. But after much review and player feedback, it became increasingly clear that despite the benefits of the AH system and the fact that many players around the world use it, it ultimately undermines Diablo’s core game play: kill monsters to get cool loot.

Diablo and Blizzard Entertainment are working out the details of how the auction house system will be shut down, but wanted to share the news as soon as Diablo and Blizzard Entertainment made the decision in order to give everyone as much advance notice as possible. Please note that the final shutdown will occur on March 18, 2014. We will keep everyone informed as we work through this process, stay tuned to Diablo 3.com for further details.

SoulCalibur Lost Swords Announced for PS3

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

SoulCalibur Lost Swords Announced for PS3

SOULCALIBUR LOST SWORDS SLASHES EXCLUSIVELY ONTO THE PLAYSTATION 3 SYSTEM THIS WINTER

Forge and Master New Weapons in an All-New Solo Adventure SOULCALIBUR Free-to-Play Title

NAMCO BANDAI has today announced the next exciting chapter in their hit SOULCALIBUR franchise; SOULCALIBUR LOST SWORDS, a brand new free-to-play title available exclusively on the PlayStationNetwork for PlayStation 3. Choose from a legendary cast of characters spanning the SOULCALIBUR series and fight through life-or-death battles in an engaging and highly customizable solo gameplay fighting experience.

SOULCALIBUR LOST SWORDS reinvents the world-renowned weapons-based fighting franchise with a brand new item discovery and forging system as well as elemental-based fighting mechanics. Special elemental effects such as Wind and Fire will be imbued into weapons scavenged from defeated enemies as well as forged by raw materials found by the player. Players will have to strategize which weapon to take into battle for a successful win.

“The SOULCALIBUR series has long been known for its substantial single-player modes over the past 14 years,” said Olivier Comte, Senior Vice President for NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. “SOULCALIBUR LOST SWORDS allows the development team to expand the solo-fighting game concept further than it has ever gone before with new loot-drop gameplay, elemental-based weapons, and deep character customization options that the series is known for.”

SOULCALIBUR LOST SWORDS will provide players with an incredibly deep single-player experience built upon the award-winning 3D weapons-based combat that is known and loved around the world. The free-to-play title will be available exclusively on the PlayStation 3 system this winter in Europe and Australasia.

New info for One Piece Romance Dawn

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

ONE PIECE ROMANCE DAWN will offer One Piece fans a true pirate adventure: close and animated fights, fierce foes, travelling and last but not least, funny and emotional encounters. The latest Nintendo 3DS ONE PIECE game covers the vast majority of the One Piece saga (Syrup Town, Baratie, East Blue, Alabasta and much more).

Players will have to defeat tough bosses such as CROCODILE, WAPOL, during those epic fights, LUFFY, ZORO, SANJI and their friends will have to use their Special Attacks.

ONE PIECE: ROMANCE DAWN for Nintendo 3DS is coming out on 29^th November 2013 in Europe and Australasia.

First DLC for One Piece Pirate Warriors 2 Comes out on 30th October

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

First DLC for One Piece Pirate Warriors 2 Comes out on 30th October

ONE PIECE PIRATE WARRIORS 2 gets its first Post-Launch DLC with an exclusive scenario. In this special story; STRAW HAT CREW, TRAFALGAR LAW’S HEART PIRATES and SMOKER’S ARMY start a three-way skirmish, the player will have to choose his partner in order to defeat the last crew.

This unique adventure is inspired from the PUNK HAZARD Arc from the original series and will be available on the PlayStation Network on 30th October.

ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 2 is now available at retail and download for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.

Dark Souls II Collectors & Limited Black Armour Pre-order Edition

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

Dark Souls II Collectors & Limited Black Armour Pre-order Edition

NAMCO BANDAI has announced today the details surrounding its DARK SOULS II Collector’s Edition and Black Armour Pre-Order Edition. Offered in limited quantities and while supplies last, both the Collector’s Edition and Black Armour Edition of DARK SOULS II contain items that are sure to please fans of DARK SOULS; a game that has been lauded by critics and fans to deliver one of the most challenging experiences in videogame history. DARK SOULS II is scheduled to launch in Europe and Australasia on March 14, 2014 for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. DARK SOULS II for PCs will launch in Europe and Australasia shortly after in 2014.

Avid videogame collectors and aficionados will want to immediately reserve their copy of the DARK SOULS II Collector’s Edition. The DARK SOULS II Collector’s Edition will feature a premium quality Warrior Knight figurine measuring in at 12 inches / 30 cm in height and weighing in at nearly 16 ounces / 450 grams. Fans will also be able to thumb through an exclusive hardbound art-book filled with never-before-seen images created by the talented artists at game developer FromSoftware. True adventure fans are sure to enjoy the sizable full-colour fabric map of the DARK SOULS II game world that can only be had within the Collector’s Edition. Topping off this extensive package is the metal game case from the DARK SOULS II Black Armour Edition which will contain both the game disc and the official game soundtrack composed by famed Japanese composer Motoi Sakuraba.

Rewards also await DARK SOULS II fans that simply pre-order the game as they will automatically receive the DARK SOULS II Black Armour Edition when the game launches; while supplies last. The Black Armour Edition features a metal case that contains both the game disc and the official game soundtrack that is sure to stir emotions and set players’ mood for battle.

“DARK SOULS II will offer hardcore fans and newcomers alike a challenging yet rewarding experience with a whole new sense of achievement,” said Olivier COMTE, Senior Vice-President at NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. “Working closely with FROM SOFTWARE, we’re excited to be bringing these Collector’s Edition and special Black Armour Edition, with appealing added content for everyone that will allow them to fully dive into the world of DARK SOULS II.”

Dark Souls II will be launching in Europe and Australasia on March 14, 2014 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with the PC edition to follow shortly in 2014. To learn more about Dark Souls II or to pre-order the game, please visit http://www.darksoulsII.com/. To stay up-to-date with DARK SOULS II including updates on the upcoming DARK SOULS II Beta; please visit the DARK SOULS Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/darksouls.

Nvidia Announces the Tegra Note Tablet

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

Yesterday NVIDIA announced the Tegra Note Tablet here is information so far on the device from NVIDIA and the suggested retail price of £179.99. That will help many more people experience the new technologies going into Tegra Note, including its 100 percent Android OS.

Here is a quick rundown on some of the Tegra Note’s unique features:

Ultra-fast performance – Powered by Tegra 4 with a 72-core GeForce GPU and quad-core Cortex-A15 CPU with a fifth battery-saver core, making Tegra Note the world’s fastest 7-inch tablet.
Superb stylus – NVIDIA DirectStylus technology transforms a normal stylus into an incredibly responsive experience with finer point and broader stroke control. It also comes bundled with apps for convenient, stroke-based note taking.
Exceptional sound – NVIDIA PureAudio technology offers rich, deep audio – including the widest frequency range in a tablet – through front-facing stereo speakers with a bass-reflex port.
Groundbreaking camera – The camera uses Tegra 4’s processing power and Chimera computational photography architecture to deliver stunning new features. Tegra Note also brings SmugMug’s Camera Awesome app – one of the top camera apps on iOS – to Android. Camera Awesome delivers exclusive Tegra 4 features like tap-to-track and 100 fps video with slow motion playback.
TegraZone gaming – Delivering unmatched gaming, NVIDIA TegraZone provides easy access to Tegra-optimized games with visual effects that aren’t available on other tablets. Tegra Note also supports a variety of game controllers for console-class gaming.
Great battery life – 10-plus hours of HD video playback.
Accessories galore – An intelligent slide cover flips and bends to support and cover the tablet. It also lets the tablet be set up in three distinct positions using the build-in magnets for added flexibility. The DirectStylus Pro Pack enables a variety of writing styles with interchangeable tips. And Bluetooth capabilities turn the tablet into a game controller.

On top of that, users get over-the-air (OTA) software updates provided directly by NVIDIA. This will help ensure customers have current software, offering the richest experience with their devices.

Processor	Tegra 4 mobile processor with quad-core Cortex-A15 CPU and 72-core GeForce GPU
Display	7-inch HD IPS LCD display (1280 x 800)
Camera	Rear 5 MP and front VGA webcam
Storage	16 GB storage with micro SD expandable up to an additional 32 GB
Audio	Front facing “HD Audio” stereo speakers with a unique bass-reflex port
Stylus	Chisel and Brush tips for natural writing and broad strokes
Peripherals	Micro HDMI connector to drive big screen TV videos and gaming
OS	100% Android with latest version of the OS
Software Updates	Over The Air software updates directly from NVIDIA
Battery Life	10 hours HD video playback

Wonderland in Alice in Wonderland: A New Champion for iOS

Apple

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

Wonderland in Alice in Wonderland: A New Champion for iOS

Disney Interactive has announced the launch of the free-to-play mobile game Alice in Wonderland: A New Champion, a vibrant world inspired by the hit live-action film, on iOS and soon on Android devices. Players experience the unbelievable sights and curious mysteries of Wonderland while they fight to thwart the return of the dreaded Red Queen and her minions.

Players tumble through the rabbit hole into this fantastical land and work with the story characters to help rebuild Wonderland and set things right. Along the way, they will solve riddles, craft tools and assume the mantle as the White Queen’s Champion in order to help Alice save Wonderland from the scourge of the Red Queen.

Key Features

Familiar friends, like Alice, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit and the March Hare
Visually stunning locations such as the Mad Tea Party, magnificent White Queen’s Castle, cosy Bayard’s Village and many more
Crafting tools and resources to help the denizens of Wonderland survive and flourish
Whimsical riddles that characterise the delightful and intriguing Wonderland

Nintendo Gives You Fit For Free with Wii Fit U for 31 Days

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

Nintendo Gives You Fit For Free with Wii Fit U for 31 Days

Nintendo is offering Wii U owners a chance to download a 31-days trial version of Wii Fit U for free. Starting on 1^st November, Wii U owners can download a complete trial version of the game and get a head start on their New Year’s fitness goals by trying out all the activities found in the game for 31 days – at no cost. All you need is a balance board and a Wii U system with a broadband Internet connection.* Fitness fans can unlock the time restriction of Wii Fit U by simply synching a Fit Meter, available at retail separately, to the game. Nintendo announced the special offer along with a number of items related to active gaming during a Nintendo Direct video. To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://nintendo.co.uk/nintendodirect.

“Wii Fit U turns fitness into a fun, family experience,” said Laurent Fischer, Managing Director European Marketing & PR at Nintendo. “With this special offer, as well as new titles like Wii Party U, Wii Karaoke U by JOYSOUND and SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD launching this year, it’s the perfect time for families to experience the unique value and variety that owning a Wii U console can offer.”

The 31-days trial version of Wii Fit U will be available to download free of charge from Nintendo eShop between 1^st November 2013 and 31^st January 2014 and will work for 31 days from the day it is first played. Using the software, users can stay active with 77 different activities, including 19 new training activities, many of which take advantage of the Wii U GamePad controller. Users who want to continue using Wii Fit U beyond the 31-days trial period can unlock the time restriction by synching a Fit Meter accessory (available at retail) with their trial version of the Wii Fit U software. This will allow them to continue playing Wii Fit U for an unlimited time. The Fit Meter will be released on 1^st November in a choice of colours including Black, Red and Green.

The Fit Meter accessory is much more than a pedometer – it’s an activity meter that tracks a wide range of everyday activity. It records not only the number of steps a user has taken, but it also takes into account the intensity of those steps – was the user running or walking? The Fit Meter also measures altitude, so wearers get credit for climbing stairs or walking uphill. All of these data points combined provide users with an accurate overview of their day’s activity, including a detailed calculation of the number of calories they burned. This data can then be transferred wirelessly to Wii Fit U via the Wii U GamePad with just a touch of a button. The Fit Meter transforms users’ everyday lives into workouts, encouraging them to get active and stay active.

Wii Fit U features many of the strength training, yoga and fun fitness games that have made the Wii Fit series so popular. Plus, there are new games that combine the Wii Balance Board and Wii U GamePad, including new dance routines such as hip-hop, locking and salsa that work out various parts of the body through simple dance moves. The game also gives players more ways to create their own custom workout routines. Users can also create or join a Miiverse Gym Community to share tips and support with other Wii Fit U users who have similar goals. Or people can create closed communities made up exclusively of their friends. The communities will help people stay motivated by giving them a venue to discuss their fitness progress with others.

For those who choose not to download the 31-days trial version, on 6^th December Wii Fit U launches as a packaged game in two sets, one including the game disc and Fit Meter, the other including the game disc, Fit Meter and Wii Balance Board. The paid download version of the game will also be available on Nintendo eShop from 1^st February 2014.

Dragon’s Prophet Out Now

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 19, 2013

0

The time to CAPTURE, TRAIN, RIDE and FIGHT hundreds of dragons has arrived! Infernum Productions and Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) has announced the launch of one of the largest dragon-based massively multiplayer online (MMO) games ever created in Europe and North America. In this free-to-play MMO, players fight alongside and against hundreds of unique dragons that roam the land, sea and air.

“At last the Day of the Prophet is finally here! Even though it’s always special to release a new game, MMORPGs play on a different level. Thanks to the help of our enthusiastic community as well as the tireless work of the developer, Auratia, the home of Dragon’s Prophet now shines brighter than ever before”, said Kristian Metzger, Director Product Management at Infernum. “Since the start of Open Beta in May, many thrilling features as well as new content packages have been added to the game while existing systems have been drastically improved. The 100+ pages full of patch notes are a testament of these efforts. Now Dragon’s Prophet offers everything an enthusiast of fantasy games could wish for. An engaging combat system, epic guild battles, challenging dungeons as well more than 300 mighty dragons; the best kind of companions you could imagine!”

“Dragon’s Prophet combines an insane variety of powerful and majestic dragons with an action-based combat and end-game siege system to create one of the most unique gaming experiences for fantasy MMO enthusiasts,” said Todd Carson, Senior Producer of Dragon’s Prophet. “We know players are eager and ready for action and launch brings many exciting developments from Open Beta, including new dungeons, a level cap increase, a revamped Starting Zone, World Boss and the much-anticipated Frontier System.”

Beginning today, players can participate in massive player versus player (PvP) battles, form alliances consisting of multiple guilds, and experience aerial and mounted combat. Aided by siege weaponry and Alliance Guardian Dragons, alliances will engage in large-scale PvP wars to assert their superiority and achieve the ultimate prize: Eventual control of different territories in the Auratian Sky Islands.

Aspiring Prophets can explore, fight new creatures, and battle through four new dungeons in Inartia. They can also take on a skeletal World Boss and new quests in Puretia. Live broadcast functionality has been integrated into Dragon’s Prophet, and players will be able to stream their dragon capturing and fighting experiences directly to the Twitch Platform.

“We want to ensure that the player experience only improves and becomes more dragon-filled as we move forward,” said Tony Tang, founder and vice president of business development at Runewaker Entertainment. “We are continuing to work closely with both Infernum and SOE to design exciting features to be implemented post-launch like dragon versus dragon arenas, a raid system and air-to-air combat.”

Developed by Runewaker Entertainment, Dragon’s Prophet takes place in the beautiful world of Auratia, a realm with a rich and tumultuous history. Players must band together to battle and train a variety of dragons as they work to restore order to the land. However, this is not an easy task; since his escape from his eternal prison, the Great Devouring Dragon known as Kronos is more dangerous than ever. Featuring an action-based combat system, Dragon’s Prophet provides players with visceral action gameplay in battles on land and across the skies. Dragon’s Prophet launches with plenty of customization options, including four distinct player classes to choose from – ranger, sorcerer, guardian or oracle – for creation of one-of-a-kind characters. Customizable player housing is also featured, allowing players to build, decorate and furnish their house however they want.

Dragon’s Prophet is now available on PC systems via digital download in Europe from Infernum Productions or any of its digital partners, in North America from SOE as a Free to Play. Your Way title.

Everything that Dragon’s Prophet has to offer:

General & PvE:
· Deep background story that begins in the starter zone Puretia
· Six adventurous zones offer everything from sap green meadows, deadly deserts and frosty glaciers
· Four classes with extensive specialisation options through class skills, masteries and the use of dragons
· Already more than 1,500 quests
· Grand cities that serve as hubs between adventures
· More than 25 challenging dungeons with multiple difficulty settings and bosses
· Action-based combat system with numerous combo attacks
· Regular in-game events and tournaments
· Complex crafting system including item improvement and dragon shard system
· Redesign and extension of the interface for improved handling and overview
· Introduction of an in-game browser
· New styling interface and new cosmetics shop
· Rewards for public events have been adjusted
· Skill balancing and revision of the attributes of all classes
· New items and revised loot, stats and attribute systems
· Performance improvements though detection algorithms, engine improvements and five graphical pre-sets
· Cross-server account features
· Restructuring and implementation of bosses as well as the general monster AI
· You can now travel to Arteicia from anywhere in the world. On top of that, there will be a new NPC in Arteicia that can take you to the following areas:
o Paeon Farm
o Lilia City
o Dima
o Messner
o Arpati
· Introduction of dungeon events
· Introduction of world bosses
· Complex and motivating achievement and title system with character bonuses
· Free on-site resurrection between level 1 and 15
· New quests in Puretia and an improved mid-game experience
· New Dragon Sanctuary including an altar of sacrifice allowing guilds to summon especially rewarding enemies

Dragons:
· More than 300 breathtaking dragons that now only serve as mounts but also assist the player in combat
· An ever improving number of currently 50 unique dragon soul skills
· In-depth interaction with your dragon: Training, levelling, skill-exchange and gathering
· New Dragon Chamber that offers space for up to 96 additional dragons
· Mounted Combat – Fight from the back of your dragon and support other players on the ground, in the water and way up in the sky
· Revised dragon companion AI

PvP & Housing:
· Sandbox-based housing in the frontier as well as the introduction of citadels, keeps, outposts and crystal towers in the PvP Citadel system that allows for massive, cross-server siege battles between alliances or guilds
· Floating Islands, apartments and private islands allow players to build their houses the way they want
· New furniture NPC and improved housing systems
· Five new dance emotes for players to show off their moves with their dragons and guild mates
· Introduction of the alliance system (Lyaree Brotherhood). Players can now form alliances consisting of multiple guilds

What’s planned after the release?
· High Lord system for control over huge territories
· Additional dragon commands for improved coordination during combat
· Big and especially challenging, open and dungeon-based raids for up to 30 players
· 10 new regions and about 30 dungeons and instances per year for regular content updates
· Continuation of the epic story surrounding the dark dragon Kronos
· Mini games
· Dragon Encyclopedia that delivers detailed information and honours the true dragon master
· VIP system with daily login rewards
· Dynamic events
· Dragon vs. dragon arena
· Dragon breeding
· PvP arenas and battlefields
· New pets that can collect loot

Review of Dishonored From Bethesda

Sam Thompson

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Sep 18, 2013

1

Seemingly every modern game released promises to be different, to pose multiple choices with diverse ramifications and to be artistically unique. Dishonored is one of those games, but can it deliver upon it’s foretelling, or will it quietly recede into the background, falling victim to it’s own hype?

There are two main characters at work here in Dishonored, the protagonist Corvo Attano, and the beautifully realised city of Dunwall. Both are mute, yet pivotal to the story, atmosphere and engagement of the player. Enjoying it’s industrial boom with whale oil at the helm, Dunwall is home to a lovely sea view, corruption of power and a diminishing population due to a slight rat-plague infestation. That’s not to spoil the return of Corvo, the Empress’s legendary bodyguard, fresh from his voyage however. Being framed for her murder merely 10 minutes after arriving and slung into prison may put a slant on your day though.

Here begin the many gameplay choices presented to you, after getting used to the controls, and choking a few hapless guards out of course, I came across my first dilemma. I wished to explore the area, yet many guards stood before me, I contemplated clambering up the nearby pipe and sneakily stealth-ing my way past them, but I figured I’d have to get used to the combat mechanics at some point. My imagination reeled at the dance of macabre I would perform, inflicting death and destruction to all nearby; with the memories of the game’s trailers still fresh in mind, I jumped in sword-a-swinging. Instead, I was treated to a sound beating. Only after some grimaces, a marginally altered gameplan and a refreshing tin of brined hagfish was I ready to proceed.

Skipping forward a couple of hours and I’m set. I’ve got new friends that don’t want to kill me in a sewer, some upgrades, the power of teleportation and a hideous beating heart I can point at people to learn of their dark secrets. From now on, the game opens up, tasking you with assassinating targets. Each mission takes place in a sandbox style area with many routes, guards and secrets along the way. This is also where the choice of gameplay variety opens up, either ‘blink’ (teleport) your war across rooftops and into shadow leaving your presence a mystery and an afterthought, or swathe in, crossbow twanging and sword duly coated in your enemies regrets. Or alternatively, a profound measure of the two, when one goes bad, switch it up on the fly to regain the advantage.

A meter in the menus indicates which style of play you generally have affinity for and an end of level report clarifies this on a per mission basis. Either killing like a man possessed or leaving things be will alter the ending, and in fact, the later missions. Spill too much blood and you’ll find extra security as well as a more rampant plague to hinder your progress. The main assassinations can also be dealt with in a myriad of ways, perhaps a point blank gunshot is your thing, or perhaps an environmental kill would ease the burden? Fatality can be avoided altogether if you wish a clean conscience, but don’t expect to please everyone with your actions. Occasionally, side missions present themselves via the wish of an NPC; completing these often directly conflict with the orders you’re given, so planning can be essential.

With the environments catering to all powers, secrets are great fun to find; with some requiring more thought than others. The game encourages creativity in progression, the ‘light walls’ being a succinct example. Either destroy them, attempt to find a way around and bypass them completely, or even reverse the targeting so that they will grant only you passage, leaving a nasty surprise for any patrolling/pursuing guards. Being limited to first person view has advantages and disadvantages in a game such as this of course. For the most part, it’s immersive, tense and it makes combat more visceral. On the other hand, it can make ‘platforming’ a little tricky. Not knowing exactly when you can jump leads to some inevitably frustrating deaths, the checkpointing system more often than not ensures you won’t have to replay a ton of content, yet there are also manual saves which can be performed at any point whilst not in combat, letting you plan an action, implement it poorly, screw it up and try again with minimal fuss.

Graphically divisive, Dishonored combines a unique blend of style over substance, textures are never that sharp, instead opting for a smoother pallet and relying upon artistic direction to create an overall look of distinction. Character modelling assumes an almost soft composition, whilst still remaining potentially gruesome should the situation dictate. Voice work is also exemplary, employing big hitters such as Carrie Fisher and Lena Headey is just another reminder that gaming has become a much larger medium of late and can/will appeal to a wider audience given chance.

Owing to the fact that there are two radically different endings, and that you cannot possibly acquire all of the upgrades in one playthrough, Dishonored demands multiple attempts at completion. It’s range of difficulties and challenges to suit all players will hopefully negate the slightly short completion time, yet with all the differing avenues, collectibles and lore available in game, it would do it injustice to leave it at one anyway. With certain assassin style games resorting to melee combat with a super-pope, it’s invigorating to play a game that has the style of Bioshock, the execution of Hitman and more importantly, delivery of it’s promises.

Reviewed on PS3, also available on Xbox 360 and PC.

App Update: Shazam for iOS updated to version 7.0.0

Apple

Andrew Edney

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Sep 18, 2013

0

The very cool music identification app Shazam has been updated to version 7.0.0.

Having tried some different music, I cant honestly say it find’s the song in a matter of seconds, in some cases, only two or three words had been sung. I was very impressed!

This is how Shazam is described:

Lightning fast tagging. Now discover, explore and share more music, TV shows and brands you love in as little as one second.

With unlimited tagging use Shazam as much as you want, and experience more of what you like, faster.

You can also:
○ Save & listen again (30 sec preview)
○ Buy tracks easily on iTunes & find more by tagged artists
○ View extra content as you watch TV
○ Watch music videos & concerts from YouTube
○ Share on Facebook, Twitter & email
○ See streaming lyrics in time to the music
○ Discover new music in Shazam Friends & Charts
○ See when an artist is touring
○ Use it when you don’t have a signal

What’s New?

○ Shazam welcomes iOS7 to the world with a fresh new look!
○ Share your Shazamed moments: Mention friends and places when you post to Facebook
○ Forgot what you Shazamed last night? Now you get a reminder of your most recent discovery when you open the app, and one simple tap to buy the track.
○ Want to buy what’s hot in London? You can now buy multiple tracks at once from our Explore charts.
○ Shazam now speaks Czech, Polish and Russian.
○ And once again, we’ve improved our recognition technology so we can recognize music even more quickly.

Download now from the Apple App Store